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UIndy, Senator Announce New Richard G. Lugar Academy

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar will rejoin the faculty of the University of Indianapolis in January and help UIndy launch a high-level Washington, D.C., internship and study program for students from Indiana and across the nation.

Lugar joined UIndy President Robert Manuel today in announcing the formation of the Richard G. Lugar Academy, a sweeping expansion of the university's existing Lugar Center for Tomorrow's Leaders. The university will add a branch office and a full-time staff position in Washington to support its new internship program as well as conferences, symposia, policy studies and other activities of the academy.

At UIndy's main campus in Indianapolis, the nonpartisan Lugar Academy will continue to organize the annual Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow's Leaders, a daylong program created in 1977 for Indiana high school juniors to explore national and international issues. The Indianapolis office also will host events featuring prominent speakers and develop an institute to prepare first-time elected officials for public office, drawing on the resources of UIndy's Institute for Civic Leadership & Mayoral Archives.

Lugar, as a Distinguished Professor in UIndy's Department of History & Political Science, will continue as keynote speaker for his annual symposium and also will deliver three lectures each year for UIndy students, with additional lectures in the nation's capital. He will be instrumental in designing the D.C. internship program, which will focus on key national and global issues, with courses developed by UIndy faculty. Students in the semester-long program will spend two days a week in classes and seminars and three days in highly selective government-related internships.

"We couldn't be more pleased that Senator Lugar has selected UIndy as a home for his important post-Senate work," Manuel said. "It's difficult to imagine another individual with such a wealth of experience and such a willingness to share it with young people. With his help, we can provide an unparalleled opportunity for students pursuing careers in public service."